Public Release: 30-Mar-2016 Rutgers scientists identify a protein causing damage and serious illness Rutgers University A protein that should help fight infection and keep us healthy may be targeted for treating devastating illnesses like heart and liver disease, according… Read More ›
. Bioweapon or Potential
Study finds vast diversity among viruses that infect bacteria
Public Release: 24-Mar-2016 PLOS Viruses that infect bacteria are among the most abundant life forms on Earth. Our oceans and soils, and potentially even our own bodies, would be overrun with bacteria were it not for bacteria-eating viruses–called bacteriophages–that… Read More ›
Black fever beats drugs by adding just two DNA bases to its genome
Public Release: 22-Mar-2016 Discovery shows that whole-genome sequencing could be used to monitor spread of drug-resistant disease Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute In eLife today (22 March), Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute scientists show how the parasite responsible for the neglected… Read More ›
More ancient viruses lurk in our DNA than we thought
“in about 50 of the 2,500 people studied, contains an intact, full genetic recipe for an entire virus” Public Release: 22-Mar-2016 One whole endogenous retrovirus genome — and bits of 17 others — were spotted in a study of… Read More ›
Bacterial airborne signal encourages fungal growth critical in lung infections
Public Release: 15-Mar-2016 American Society for Microbiology Washington, D.C.–March 15, 2016–Researchers in France have discovered that volatile compounds released by a bacterial pathogen stimulate the growth of a fungal pathogen found in lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF). The… Read More ›
Structure of a hantavirus protein as a promising model for drug design
Public Release: 26-Feb-2016 X-ray crystallography provides drug template against disease transmitted by small rodents Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association IMAGE: Left: Hexameric rings form a tube of viral capsid. Right: view from the… Read More ›
Immune cells don’t always ward off carbon nano invaders
Public Release: 24-Feb-2016 University of Michigan ANN ARBOR — Scientists at the University of Michigan have found evidence that some carbon nanomaterials can enter into immune cell membranes, seemingly going undetected by the cell’s built-in mechanisms for engulfing and… Read More ›
What makes a bacterial species able to cause human disease?
Public Release: 18-Feb-2016 Global effort produces first cross-species genomic analysis of Leptospira, a bacterium that can cause disease — and death — in targeted mammals, including humans University of California – San Diego An international team of scientists, led… Read More ›
Releasing engineered genes into the wild
Public Release: 18-Feb-2016 Engineered gene drives and the future Entomologists review pros, cons and regulatory issues surrounding new technology that could help halt the spread of diseases such as Zika virus, dengue fever and malaria University of California – Riverside… Read More ›
Novel herpes virus isolated from bat cells
Public Release: 17-Feb-2016 American Society for Microbiology Washington, DC – February 17, 2016 – Researchers from Maryland and New York have identified a novel herpes virus in cells taken from a bat. The work, published this week in mSphere,… Read More ›